Improvement in wheels for vehicles



F. H. GREEN.

Wheels for Vehicles.

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UNITED STATES PATEN EEIE FRANCIS H. GREEN, OF EAU CLAIRE, WISCONSIN.

IMPROVEMENT IN WHEELS FOR VEHICLES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 166,272, dated August 3, 1875; application filed December 9, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, FEANcis H. GREEN, of Eau Claire, in the county of Eau Claire and in the State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wagon- Wheels; and do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings making a part of this specif1- cation, in which- Figure lis a perspective view of my improved wheel, looking from the outer side. Fig. 2 is a like view of the parts composing the hub, said parts being separated from each other; and Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal section of said hub as complete.

Letters of like name and kind refer to like parts in each of the figures.

The design ofmy invention is to increase the strength, efficiency, and ease of adjustment 0f wagon-wheel hubs composed of wood and metal, and principally in the means employed for confining the wooden thimble within the metal hub, substantially as is hereinafter shown. It consists, further, in the means employed for expanding the wheel, substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter 'set forth.

In the annexed drawings, A represents a metal collar, having exteriorly the form shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and provided within its inner face with radial recesses c c, &c., which correspond to and receive the inner ends of a series of spokes, B B, &c. At itsradial center the collar A is provided with a central opening, a', that extends entirely through from side to side, which opening is recessed out at its inner end, and such recess a provided with a screw-thread. Within the recess a is fitted a thimble or sleeve, C, which interiorly corresponds in size to the dimensions of the opening a', and exteriorly at one end is provided with al screw-thread, c, that corresponds to and engages with the thread of said recess, and enables said sleeve to be screwed Vinto or from the same. From its threaded end coutward the sleeve C decreases regularly in size until beyond the line of the spokes B, and from such tapering portion c', to its outer end has a uniform size, andis provided with a screw-thread, c, over which is fitted a second collar, D, that corresponds in general exterior shape to the form of the collar A, and when in place bears against the inner face of the latter, and against the edges of said spokes. The ends of the spokes B B, Ste., conform to the slope c of the sleeve C, and have such length as to bear firmly upon the same when said sleeve is screwed inward to its farthest point, when, by screwing said sleeve outward, said spokes will be moved radially outward, and the fellies E E, Ste., caused to bear firmly against the tire F. y

In order to tighten the wheel within its tire it is only necessary to remove the outer collar D, and,\by means of a wrench applied to a squared portion, c", of the sleeve C, screw the latter su'iciently outward, after which said collar may be restored to place. The central openings through the collars and sleeve decrease slightly in size from the inner end of the hub outward, and within the same is fitted a correspondingly-shaped wooden thimble, G, which, at its ends, is protected by suitable external and internal metal rings. i

In order that when in place the thimble, G may be securely fastened the smallest portion cl of the sleeve C is slotted longitudinally, and the recessed threaded portion d of the collar D is made somewhat tapering, so that when said collar is screwed to place it shall compress said slotted sleeve end and cause the same to firmly gripe said thimble. The plates H and H, which connect together the ends of fellies E and E, extend outward and embrace the sides ofthe latter, so as to obviatel the necessity for the employment of the usual dowelpins for holding said felly ends in relative sleeve Gland the collar D, providedwith thev portion, c', which bears against the inner ends tapering threaded recess d, which ts vover of said spokes, substantially as and for the and compresses the divided threaded portion purpose set forth.

c of said sleeve, substantially as and for the 'In testimony that claim the foregoing I purpose shown. 'have hereunto set my hand this 24th day of 2. In combination with the spokes B B, 8vo., November, 1874.

fitted into the radialA recesses a 00,850., of the.' FRA-NCIS H. GREEN. collar A, the sleeve C, provided With the Witnesses: v

threaded portion c, thatts into the threaded J A. ELLIS,`

recess a of said collar, and having a tapered ABEL DAVTS. 

